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List of least concern insects facts for kids

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The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) keeps a special list called the Red List. This list helps us know which animals and plants are doing well and which ones need help. As of July 2016, the IUCN says that 2,843 different kinds of insects are "least concern" species. This means they are not currently at risk of disappearing. In fact, almost half (47%) of all the insects they have checked are doing well!

The IUCN also lists 12 insect subspecies as least concern. A subspecies is like a special group within a species. No smaller groups of insects have been checked by the IUCN yet. This article shares some examples of these "least concern" insects.

Contents

Earwigs: Not So Scary!

Earwigs are small insects with pincers at the end of their bodies. Don't worry, they are mostly harmless to humans! One earwig species that is doing well is the Spirolabia browni.

Blattodea: Cockroaches and Termites

This group includes cockroaches and termites. While some might not be your favorite, many species are important parts of their ecosystems. Here are a few examples of "least concern" species:

  • Desmosia alluaudi
  • Distichopis stylopyga
  • Miriamrothschildia gardineri

Phasmatodea: Stick and Leaf Insects

Stick and leaf insects are masters of disguise! They blend in perfectly with their surroundings. Some "least concern" species include:

  • Alluaud's stick insect (Carausius alluaudi)
  • Gardiner's stick insect (Carausius gardineri)
  • Seychelles leaf insect (Phyllium bioculatum)

Termites: Tiny Builders

Termites are social insects that live in large colonies. They are known for building impressive mounds. Two termite species that are considered "least concern" are:

  • Nasutitermes maheensis
  • Neotermes laticollis

Orthoptera: Crickets, Grasshoppers, and Katydids

This large group includes many familiar hopping and chirping insects. A total of 184 species and six subspecies in the Orthoptera order are listed as "least concern."

Crickets: Nighttime Singers

Crickets are known for their chirping sounds, especially at night. Here are some examples of crickets that are doing well:

  • Cyprian stripe-headed cricket (Modicogryllus cyprius)
  • Cretan glandular cricket (Ovaliptila lindbergi)
  • Polionemobius modestus

Acridids: Grasshoppers Galore

Acridids are a family of grasshoppers. They are often found in fields and grasslands. Many species are not at risk, such as:

  • Slender burrowing grasshopper (Acrotylus patruelis)
  • Common field grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus)
  • Canarian band-winged grasshopper (Oedipoda canariensis)

Tettigoniids: Katydids and Bush-Crickets

Tettigoniids are often called katydids or bush-crickets. They are known for their long antennae and sometimes their loud calls. Species

  • Armoured katydid (Acanthoplus discoidalis)
  • Wood-louse glandular bush-cricket (Bradyporus oniscus)
  • African cone-head (Conocephalus conocephalus)
  • Koringkriek (Hetrodes pupus)
  • Greek predatory bush-cricket (Saga hellenica)

Subspecies

  • Lesser reed katydid (Pseudorhynchus pungens meridionalis)

Rhaphidophorids: Cave-Crickets

These crickets are often found in caves or other dark, damp places. They are sometimes called camel crickets.

  • Naoussa cave-cricket (Dolichopoda hussoni)
  • Common cave-cricket (Troglophilus cavicola)

Phaneropterids: Leaf Katydids

This group includes many types of leaf katydids and bush-crickets. They are often green and blend in with leaves. Species

  • Giant leaf katydid (Arantia fasciata)
  • Common bark katydid (Cymatomera denticollis)
  • Showy plump bush-cricket (Isophya speciosa)
  • Arabian sickle bush-cricket (Phaneroptera sparsa)
  • Common grass katydid (Tylopsis continua)

Subspecies

  • Eulioptera reticulata reticulata

Hymenoptera: Ants and Bees

This order includes ants, bees, and wasps. Many of these insects are very important for our environment, especially as pollinators. There are 106 "least concern" species in this group.

Ants: Social Insects

Ants live in highly organized colonies. One ant species listed as "least concern" is:

  • Leptothorax recedens

Colletids: Plasterer Bees

Colletids are a type of bee. Some species are called "plasterer bees" because they line their nests with a special substance.

Apids: Bumblebees and Cuckoo Bees

This family includes many well-known bees, like bumblebees. Many are important for pollinating plants.

Halictids: Sweat Bees

Halictids are often called "sweat bees" because some are attracted to human sweat. They are also important pollinators.

  • Halictus concinnus
  • Lasioglossum viride

Andrenids: Mining Bees

Andrenids are known as "mining bees" because they often dig nests in the ground.

  • Andrena anthrisci
  • Flavipanurgus flavus

Megachilids: Leafcutter Bees

Megachilids include leafcutter bees, which use pieces of leaves to build their nests.

  • Hoplitis lepeletieri
  • Megachile lagopoda

Mantodea: Mantises

Mantises are fascinating predators known for their "praying" stance. Several species are doing well:

Lepidoptera: Butterflies and Moths

Lepidoptera is the order of butterflies and moths. These insects are famous for their beautiful wings and their life cycle, which includes a caterpillar stage. There are 420 species and one subspecies in this order listed as "least concern."

Swallowtail Butterflies: Colorful Wings

Swallowtail butterflies are large and often have "tails" on their hindwings.

Lycaenids: Blues, Coppers, and Hairstreaks

Lycaenids are a diverse family of small butterflies, often brightly colored.

  • Barkly's copper (Aloeides barklyi)
  • Common silver-line (Apharitis siphax)
  • Fiery jewel (Hypochrysops ignita)
  • Spanish purple hairstreak (Laeosopis roboris)
  • Dark grass blue (Zizina antanossa)

Nymphalids: Brush-footed Butterflies

Nymphalids are a very large family, often called "brush-footed butterflies" because their front legs are small and brush-like.

Skippers: Fast Fliers

Skippers are butterflies known for their quick, darting flight. Species

Subspecies

  • Oreisplanus munionga larana

Pierids: Whites and Sulphurs

Pierids are often white, yellow, or orange butterflies.

Riodinids: Metalmarks

Riodinids are a family of butterflies often called "metalmarks" because of shiny spots on their wings.

  • Delicate Judy (Abisara delicata)
  • Malay red harliquin (Paralaxita damajanti)

Coleoptera: Beetles

Beetles make up the largest order of insects. There are 423 beetle species assessed as "least concern."

Geotrupids: Earth-boring Dung Beetles

These beetles are often found near dung, which they bury for food and to lay their eggs.

  • Geotrupes douei
  • Thorectes laevigatus

Cerambycidae: Longhorn Beetles

Longhorn beetles are known for their very long antennae.

  • Monochamus sartor
  • Ropalopus femoratus

Elateridae: Click Beetles

Click beetles can "click" their bodies to flip themselves over if they land on their backs.

  • Ampedus aethiops
  • Stenagostus rufus

Eucnemids: False Click Beetles

Eucnemids are similar to click beetles but belong to a different family.

  • Hylis cariniceps
  • Microrhagus emyi

Scarabaeidae: Scarab Beetles

This large family includes dung beetles, chafers, and other scarabs.

  • Bubas bison
  • Canthon triangularis
  • Onthophagus australis
  • Scarabaeus aegyptiorum

Odonata: Dragonflies and Damselflies

Odonata includes both dragonflies and damselflies. These insects are known for their beautiful wings and their life near water. There are 1,690 species and five subspecies in this order listed as "least concern."

Platystictids: Shadowdamsels

These are a type of damselfly, often found in shaded areas near streams.

  • Elongate shadowdamsel (Palaemnema gigantula)
  • Short-winged shadowdamsel (Protosticta beaumonti)

Chlorogomphidae: Sundragons

These are large, often colorful, dragonflies.

  • Chlorogomphus papilio
  • Watanabeopetalia atkinsoni

Argiolestids: Flatwings

Flatwings are damselflies that often rest with their wings spread flat.

  • Little flatwing (Argiolestes pusillus)
  • Powdered flatwing (Austroargiolestes calcaris)

Perilestids: Twigtails

Twigtails are slender damselflies often found near forest streams.

  • Attenuate twigtail (Perilestes attenuatus)

Chlorocyphids: Jewels

These damselflies are known for their bright, jewel-like colors.

  • Blue jewel (Chlorocypha aphrodite)
  • Dancing jewel (Platycypha caligata)
  • Common blue jewel (Rhinocypha perforata)

Platycnemidids: Featherlegs and Threadtails

These damselflies often have flattened legs, giving them the name "featherlegs." Species

Subspecies

  • Platycnemis pennipes nitidula

Synlestids: Malachites

Malachites are damselflies found in southern Africa and Australia.

  • Conspicuous malachite (Chlorolestes conspicuus)
  • Forest malachite (Chlorolestes tessellatus)

Megapodagrionids: Flatwings

This group includes many types of flatwing damselflies.

Gomphids: Clubtails

Gomphids are dragonflies often called "clubtails" because of their club-shaped abdomen.

  • Pale hunter (Austrogomphus amphiclitus)
  • Common clubtail (Gomphus vulgatissimus)
  • Dragonhunter (Hagenius brevistylus)
  • Bladetail (Lindenia tetraphylla)
  • Green-eyed hooktail (Onychogomphus forcipatus)

Cordulegastrids: Spiketails

Spiketails are large, often yellow and black, dragonflies.

  • Apache spiketail (Cordulegaster diadema)
  • Blue-eyed goldenring (Cordulegaster insignis)

Corduliids: Emeralds and Baskettails

This family includes many "emerald" dragonflies, known for their green eyes.

  • Downy emerald (Cordulia aenea)
  • Australian emerald (Hemicordulia australiae)
  • Brilliant emerald (Somatochlora metallica)

Calopterygids: Jewelwings and Demoiselles

These are often very colorful damselflies found near streams.

Coenagrionids: Bluets and Sprites

This is a very large family of damselflies, often small and blue. Species

Subspecies

  • Pele damselfly (Megalagrion amaurodytum peles)

Euphaeids: Gossamerwings

These damselflies are known for their broad, often colorful wings.

  • Odalisque (Epallage fatime)
  • Euphaea decorata

Synthemistids: Tigertails

Tigertails are dragonflies with striped bodies.

Macromiids: Cruisers

Cruisers are large, fast-flying dragonflies.

  • Regal pond cruiser (Epophthalmia elegans)
  • Bronzed river cruiser (Macromia annulata)
  • Sahel cruiser (Phyllomacromia africana)

Lestids: Spreadwings

Spreadwings are damselflies that often rest with their wings spread out.

Aeshnids: Darners and Hawkers

Aeshnids are large, strong-flying dragonflies.

  • Southern hawker (Aeshna cyanea)
  • Emperor (Anax imperator)
  • Giant duskhawker (Gynacantha africana)
  • Cyrano darner (Nasiaeschna pentacantha)

Libellulids: Skimmers and Darters

This is the largest family of dragonflies, with many common species. Species

Subspecies

  • Acisoma panorpoides ascalaphoides
  • Orthetrum julia falsum

Polythorids: Bannerwings

These damselflies are found in Central and South America.

  • Glitterwing (Chalcopteryx rutilans)
  • Black-banded bannerwing (Cora aurea)

See also

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